After failed attempts to sell the Stockstadt site, Sappi decided launch consultations on the future of the fine paper mill.
On 14 April 2023 Sappi announced that the negotiations to sell its Stockstadt, Germany; Maastricht, The Netherlands; and Kirkniemi, Finland, mills could not be completed and the sale had lapsed.
The company then launched a programme to review the longer-term future of each facility within Sappi. Having explored all options for Stockstadt , including discussions with other potential buyers, it has become evident that selling the mill as a going concern was not possible, the company informed.
Sappi now decided to start consultations on the future of the mill with the mill's management, the Economic Works Council and the Works Council. Discussion will include, among other possibilities, the closure of the pulp mill and paper machine and the sale of the site. Customers would continue to be served from other Sappi mills.
Sappi Stockstadt is an integrated pulp and paper mill producing 145,000 tpy of pulp which is converted to 220,000 tpy of coated and uncoated woodfree paper mainly sold into the European print market.
The original decision to sell the Stockstadt, Maastricht and Kirkniemi mills followed a detailed and thorough strategic review by Sappi in line with its Thrive25 strategic focus which includes targeted exposure to the graphic paper segment while expanding its presence in segments including packaging and speciality papers, pulp and biomaterials.
Sappi's European business will predominantly focus on applications in flexible packaging, functional papers, self-adhesive products including glassines and labels as well as dye-sublimation categories. The key area within the graphic paper segments will be commercial print.
